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Why Israel Can't Accept a Ceasefire

(UnHerd) Prof. Edward Luttwak - Hamas has never pretended to be fighting for the well-being of Gaza's population, or for Palestine as a national cause. It serves global Islam that rejects all nationalisms and demands supremacy over all other religions. In other words, it accepts no responsibility for the dead and wounded of the war, or for Gaza's reconstruction. Hence, if there is a permanent ceasefire, Hamas can start to prepare its next surprise attack, hoping for another Oct. 7 of indiscriminate killings. Steadfastly ignoring this inevitability, retired generals and even Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have urged the Israelis to reduce their attacks in order to win over Gaza's population. Yet this is to forget that such a formula failed in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan: populations dominated by brutal extremists cannot be "won over." For the Israelis, however, there is clarity. While the end of the offensive that Hamas, the UN, and countless American and British undergraduates demand would mean a complete defeat for Israel, the continuation of the war is the essential precondition of victory. The Biden Administration has been asking the Israelis to hurry up with their fighting and to use less air power, less artillery, and more infantry to reduce civilian casualties. But to move faster in Gaza's intricate urban terrain would sharply increase Israeli casualties. The same is true of any imposed reduction in artillery fire and air strikes. The unavoidable reality is that Israel cannot end its offensive, nor even accept protracted ceasefires in exchange for hostages. Instead, its forces must persist until every basement and tunnel has been cleared and Hamas' cadre of trained fighters has been drastically reduced. Of course, destroying the military power of Hamas cannot by itself bring about a permanent state of peace in Gaza. But if Hamas can no longer subject Gaza's population to its perpetual war, it will be victory enough. The writer is a contractual strategic consultant for the U.S. government.
2023-12-28 00:00:00
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